This book represents a revised and updated version of my habilitation thesis, originally submitted to the University of Graz and successfully defended during an oral habilitation colloquium in 2022. It would not have been possible without the support of several exceptional individuals, to whom I owe my deepest gratitude.
Foremost, I am immensely grateful to my mentor, Professor Joseph Marko, whose profound insights and the regular intellectual exchanges I have enjoyed with him, have been invaluable to my scholarly development. His guidance significantly shaped and deepened my understanding of the intricate relationship between law and its political contexts, sharpening my perspective on their multifaceted manifestations. His unwavering support and insightful challenges have left an indelible mark on the pages of this work.
I also wish to express my sincere thanks to Professor Bernd Wieser, head of the Center of East European Law and Eurasian Studies at the Graz Law School. His steadfast and unconditional support and encouragement have been instrumental in advancing this project, for which I am most appreciative.
Furthermore, I am especially indebted to Professor Erika de Wet, head of the Institute of International Law at the Graz Law School. Her rigorous academic standards, combined with her supportive yet demanding guidance and her generous inclusion of me within the Institute have been both an honor and a privilege, offering me an invaluable scholarly home.
Finally, I am also deeply grateful to my family – my parents, Franz and Elfriede, as well as my sister Friederike and her wonderful family – for their unwavering support throughout this challenging journey.
And to my beloved wife: Aiste, tu žinai, kad tai buvo įmanoma tik dėl tavęs.